Sliver coiling apparatus



Nov. 19, 1968 WALKER ET AL 3,411,188

' SLIVER COILING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1967 INVENTORS DANIEL NORMAN WALKER et 0| EYS NOV. 19, 1968 D, WALKER ET AL 3,411,188

SLIVER COILING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 2, 1967 @175 j 749% AT ORNEYS United States Patent 3,411,188 SLIVER COILlNG APPARATUS Daniel Norman Walker, Lytham, and Robert Harry Woodhead, Whalley, England, assignors to T.M.M. (Research) Limited, Oldham, Lancashire, England, a British company Filed June 2, 1967, Ser. No. 643,285 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 3, 1966, 24,923/ 66 15 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure concerns an automatic can changing system for a plurality of sliver cans adapted to receive sliver issuing from a coiler head and subsequently be moved to storage or other processing facilities. An automatic counter initiates the can changing cycle. Two indexing arms move first and second empty cans, the first can moving to the coiling position on a turntable beneath the coiling head and simultaneously pushing a full can from the coiling position. The second empty can is moved up to the position just vacated by the first can and the indexing arms are retracted. When the first empty can pushes the full can from the coiling position, it moves to a position slightly beyond a centered position on the turntable so as to clear the full can from engagement with the turntable. The cans employed in this system each have holes centered in the bottom thereof and each can is then retracted from the advanced position on the turntable to a centered position by a conically tipped member which is projected upwardly through the turntable and into the hole in the bottom of the can. The edge of the hole engaging the point of the conical tip is such that the can is caused to retract by the lateral force exerted on the edge of the hole as the conically tipped member is extended further upwardly.

The present invention relates to apparatus for coiling textile slivers into a sliver can at a coiling position and for Supplying empty cans to the coiling position and discharging full cans therefrom and is particularly though not exclusively concerned with a can-changing arrangement for a sliver coiler used in a drawfrarne.

Proposals have hitherto been made for automatically replacing a full can at the coiler position by an empty can moved from a reserve position, but in many of these proposals complicated can-changing mechanisms have been provided and it is an object of the present invention to provide a can-changing arrangement which is simple in operation and does not require a complicated drive mechanism.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for coiling textile slivers into a sliver can at a coiling position and for supplying empty cans to the coiling position and discharging full cans therefrom, the apparatus comprising a rotary turntable for supporting and driving a can in the coiling position, and can-displacing means operable to move an empty can from a reserve position spaced from the can in the coiling position on to the turntable and to an advance position beyond the coiling position to displace the full can from the turntable to a discharge position in which it is clear of a can at the coiling position and then to retract the empty can from the advance position to locate it in the coiling position on the turntable.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation of a single head ice drawframe with sliver coiling and can-changing apparatus in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drawframe and sliver coiling and can-changing apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a scrap section of part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 in an alternative disposition, and

FIG. 5 is a block schematic diagram of a control system for controlling the automatic operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 to 4.

Referring first to FIGS, 1 and 2, a single head drawframe 11 is provided with a central coiler head (not shown) having a conventional rotating tube-wheel through which sliver is delivered to a rotating sliver can 12 mounted on a driven turntable 13 below the coiler head and flush with the floor 14, the combined rotations of the tube-wheel and the can 12 by the turntable 13 causing the sliver to be laid in coiled formation in the can 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the turntable 13 is provided with a depending hollow axle 15 mounted in a central bearing 16 below floor level and the can 15 rests in frictional contact on the turntable 13 with its axis coincident with the rotary axis of the turntable 13. A drive is imparted to the turntable by a friction roller 17 engaging the underside of the turntable 13 and the rotary motion of the turntable 13 is imparted to the can 12 by virtue of the frictional contact between the base of the can 12 and the turntable 13.

An upstanding plunger 18 with a conically tapered head 19 is mounted for axial sliding movement in the hollow axle 15 of the turntable 13 and is coupled to one arm 20 of a bell crank lever 21, the other arm 22 of which is connected to the end of a piston rod 23 of a pneumatic ram 24 mounted below floor level, the arrangement being such that during the coiling operation the plunger 18 is above the level of the upper surface of the turntable 13 so as to project through a central opening 25 in the turntable 13 and up into a central opening 26 in the base of the can and upon actuation of the ram 24 is lowered to a position below the turntable 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, guide rails 27 to 30 are provided on the floor in the region of the turntable 13 for guiding cans 121 and 122 along a path extending diametrically across the turntable 13 so that an empty can is constrained to move on to the turntable 13 from a supply side thereof and a full can 123 to move ofi? the turntable 13 to a discharge position at the opposite side thereof. On the supply side of the turntable 13 empty cans 121 and 122 are held by spring loaded roller arms 31 and 32 at spaced first and second reserve positions and a can indexing mechanism 33 is provided for simultaneously advancing the empty cans 121 and 122, the can 121 at the first reserve position being advanced on to the turntable 13 and the can 122 at the second reserve position being advanced to the first reserve position. The can indexing mechanism 33 comprises a pneumatic indexing ram 34 mounted below floor level and arranged with a piston rod 35 longitudinally displaceable beneath the floor along the centre line of the guide path to be traversed by the empty cans 121 and 122 to be advanced to the turntable 13. The piston rod 35 is provided with two pivotally mounted indexing fingers 36 and 37 which are spring loaded so as to project through a slot 38 in the floor and which are arranged drivably to engage the sides of the cans at the rear thereof, the arrangement being such that when the piston rod 35 is advanced the first finger 36 engages the rear of the can 121 at the first reserve position and the second finger 27 engages the rear of the can 122 at the second reserve position, causing the two cans 121 and 122 to be advanced simultaneously through a distance equal to the full stroke of the piston of the indexing ram 34. The cans 121 and 122 are fitted with reinforcing rims 39 which are so located as to be engaged by the indexing fingers 36 and 37 and to engage each other when cans are brought into abutting relation.

In operation, sliver is fed from the coiler head into the can 12 centrally arranged on the turntable 13 and rotated therewith. At this time, the can-locating plunger 18 is held in the position shown in FIG. 3 in which it projects above the turntable 13, and the piston rod 35 of the indexing ram 34 is maintained in its fully retracted position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the two indexing fingers 36 and 37 are behind and spaced from the empty cans 121 and 122 at the first and second reserve positions. When the can on the turntable is full, a length measuring motion on the coiler head produces a signal which is employed to stop the coiler and to operate a valve to apply compressed air to the plunger actuating ram 24, which retracts the plunger 18 and at the same time the plunger 18 operates a further valve to apply compressed air to the cylinder of the indexing ram 34 so that the piston rod 35 is advanced through its full stroke, causing the fingers 36 and 37 to engage the cans 121 and 122 at the first and second reserve positions and to advance them simultaneously. The empty can 121 from the first reserve position abuts against the full can 12 and displaces it from the turntable 13. The full stroke of the indexing ram 34 is arranged to be such that the full can 12 is moved by the empty can 121 to a position clear of the turnable 13 by a predetermined amount, the empty can 121 still being in contact with it and taking up a position on the turntable 13 which is beyond the central position for coiling. The supply of compressed air to the cylinder of the indexing ram 34 is then reversed on completion of the full stroke of the piston rod 35, the first finger 36 retracting against its spring loading and riding beneath the base of the can 122 located at the first reserve position. A further empty can (not shown) is then moved either manually or by conveyor means into the second reserve position along the fioor 14 and between the guide rails 29 and 30, the second indexing finger 37 retracting against its spring loading to permit the advancement of the further empty can to the second reserve position. Upon completion of the retracting stroke of the piston rod 35 the supply of compressed air to the plunger actuating ram 24 is reversed and the can locating plunger 18 is thereupon projected through the central opening in the turntable as shown in FIG. 4 and into engagement with the base of the empty can 121, the arrangement being such that the conical end face of the plunger 18 bears up against the edge of the opening 26 in the base of the can 121 and upon continued advancement of the plunger 18 displaces the can 121 on the turntable 13 so that it is drawn back to a central position thereon ready for receiving sliver from the coiler head.

For cans of, say, a diameter of 19 inches the full stroke of the indexing ram 34 is arranged to be 32 inches and the spacing between the cans at the first and second reserve positions is arranged to be inches, whilst the spacing between the can 121 at the first reserve position and the full can 12 on the coiler turntable 13 is set at 9% inches. The spacing between the second actuating finger 37 with the indexing ram 34 fully retracted and the can 122 at the second reserve position is 3 inches, and the first indexing finger 36 with the indexing ram 34 fully retracted is spaced 3 inches from the can 121 at the first reserve position. A simple calculation will show that the amount of movement applied to the full can 12 by the displacing empty can is then 19% inches, the full can 12 thereby being moved clear of the turntable by A1 of an inch with the empty can 121 still in contact with the full can 12 and displaced beyond the normal coiling position by a A of an inch. The conically-headed plunger 18 is made such that it enters the central opening in the can 121 at this position on the turntable 13 and centralizes it on the turntable by advancement into the opening 26.

It is arranged for the displaced full can 12 to be moved on to a trolley 40 in the form of a platform 41 fitted with pairs of castors 42 and 43 and for this purpose the floor 14 on the discharge side of the turntable 13 is formed with two spaced ramps 44 and 45 extending below floor level down which the castors 42 and 43 of the trolley 40 can ride to bring the platform 41 of the trolley to floor level, the arrangement being such that the full can 12 on displacement from the turntable 14 is then displaced on to the platform 41 of the lowered trolley 40, and the ramps 44 and 45 being sulficiently inclined as to prevent displacement of the trolley 40 when the full can is slid on to the platform 41. A manually-controlled pneumatic ram 46 is provided below floor level and upon actuation bears against a detent provided on the trolley beneath the platform 41 and causes the trolley 40 on its castors 42 and 43 to ride up the ramps 44 and 45 and on to the floor 14, where is can be rolled away by an operator.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the length measuring motion 47 serves to actuate an operating arm 48 controlling the operation of a switch SW1, the arrangement being such that upon completion of the delivery from the coiler head of a predetermined length of sliver representing the amount necessary to fill the can 12, the arm 48 releases the switch SW1, which opens an energizing circuit for a solenoid operated air valve S1, and which causes disengagement of a clutch in the drive to the drawframe, the turntable and coiler head and the application of a brake thereto so as to arrest the drawframe and the turntable and stop delivery of sliver from the coiler head. The solenoid valve S1 controls the operation of a pneumatically operated air valve V1 comprising an inlet 49 to which pressurized air is fed from a pressurized air supply line 50. The valve V1 is provided with outlets 53 and 54 connected to opposite ends of the cylinder of the pneumatic plunger-actuating ram 24 and two further outlets 55 and 56 open to atmosphere. The valve V1 in the position shown in FIG. 5 transmits pressurized air from the inlet 49 to the outlet 53, holding the piston rod 23 of the ram 24 in the position shown, the valve being held in this position by the pneumatic force transmitted by the energized solenoid valve S1, acting against a return spring incorporated in the valve. Upon de-energisation of the solenoid valve S1, the valve V1 switches over so as to connect the inlet 49 to the outlet 54 and the outlet 53 to atmosphere, whereby the piston of the ram 24 is moved to the other end of the cylinder causing the piston rod 23 to move to the right in FIG. 5. The piston rod 23 is provided with an actuating arm 57 cooperating with switches SW2 and SW6, and the arrangement is such that upon movement of the piston rod as described the switch SW6 is released upon commencement of the stroke and switch SW2 is operated upon completion of the stroke, at the latter of which the plunger 18 takes up a retracted position below the level of the turntable 13.

The switch SW2 controls the energization of a solenoid-operated air valve S2, which in turn controls the operation of a pneumatically operated air valve V2, which is also under the control of a further solenoidoperated valve S5. The valve V2 is provided with an inlet 58 connected to the pressure line 50, outlets 59 and 60 connected to the ends of the cylinder of the canindexing ram 34 and two further outlets 61 and 62 connected to atmosphere through flow control valves 63 and 64. The valve V2 in the position shown in FIG. 5 connects the inlet 58 to the outlet 59, maintaining the piston of the ram 34 and the piston rod 35 with its indexing fingers 36 and 37 in the position shown in FIG. 5. Upon energization of the solenoid valve S2, the valve V2 switches over causing pressurized air to be fed to the right hand end of the ram 34 and a displacement of the piston and the piston rod 35 to the left in FIG. 5. At the commencement of this advancing stroke of the indexing ram 34, a switch SW3 is released and on completion of the stroke a switch SW5 is operated. At the end of the stroke the full can 12 will have been displaced from the turntable 13 and upon reaching its final displaced position causes the release of a switch SW4.

The release of the switch SW4 causes de-energization of the solenoid valve S2, overriding the effect of the switch SW2 which has been maintained in the operative condition by the piston rod 23 which is holding the plunger 18 in its retracted position. Operation of the switch SW5 causes the energization of the solenoid S5 which serves to switch over the valve V2 so that pressurized air from the inlet 58 is fed to the outlet 59, whereupon the indexing ram 34 is caused to execute a return stroke bringing the piston rod 35 with the indexing fingers 36 and 37 back to the position shown in FIG. 5. At the end of the return stroke, the switch SW3 is operated and causes the re-energization of the solenoid valve S1, whereupon the position of the valve V1 is changed to that shown in FIG. 5, resulting in the retraction of the piston in the ram 24 and the return movement of the piston rod 23 and the projection of the plunger 18 upwardly through the turntable 13, the latter movement of which causes the empty can 121 to be centralized on the turntable. At the commencement of the return stroke of the piston rod 23 the switch SW2, releases, opening contacts in the energizing circuit of the solenoid valve S2 which, however, has previously been open-circuited by the switch SW4. On completion of the return stroke of the piston rod 23, the switch SW6 is operated causing the clutch in the drive to the drawframe, turntable and coiler head to be re-engaged and the brake to be released, whereupon the machine commences delivery of a further measured length of sliver into the rotating empty can 121.

The automatic displacement of a full can from the turntable and its replacement by an empty can as hereinbefore described is then repeated, the full cans being displaced onto the trolley 40.

The trolley ejecting ram 46 is supplied with pressurized air through a pneumatically-operated air valve V4 controlled by a solenoid-operated air valve S4 which is normally de-energized and becomes energized upon the actuation of switch SW4 and the manual operation of a trolley-eject push button having contacts included in the energized circuit of the solenoid valve S4. Upon the switching over of the valve V4 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to its alternative position, pressurized air is directed from an inlet 61 to an outlet 64 while the other outlet 65 of the valve is connected to atmosphere. As a result, the trolley-ejecting ram 46 is extended causing the trolley 40 to move up the ramps 44 and 45 and onto the floor 14 where the trolley remains until it is manually removed by an operator. Upon release of the trolley-eject button, the solenoid-operated valve S4 de-energizes and the valve V4 switches back to the position shown in FIG. 5, causing the trolley ejecting ram 46 to retract. As the trolley 40 moves away from the loading position under the action of the ram 46, a switch SW7 is released, and the arrangement is such that the release of this switch prevents the operation of solenoid valves S2 and precludes any further can indexing until the repositioning of an empty trolley in the loading position on the ramps 44 and 45, which of course causes operation of the switch SW7.

The empty cans 121 and 122 occupying the first and second reserve positions are arranged to maintain pivotally mounted spring-loaded actuating arms 31 and 32 in dispositions in which they hold switches SW4a and SW4b operated. The switch SW4a is arranged to release when no empty can is present at the first reserve position as well as when a can is not properly centered at the first reserve position, while the switch SW4b is arranged to remain operated except when a can is not properly centered at the second reserve position. Each of the switches SW4a and SW4b is arranged upon release to open the energizing circuit of the solenoid-operated valve S2 con trolling the operation of the indexing ram 34. If either of the empty cans at the first and second reserve positions is not properly centered at its position, one of the switches SW4a and SW4b will release and prevent an indexing operation by the ram 34 which would normally take place on completion of the filling of the can on the turntable. Provided, however, a can is present at the first reserve position and is properly centered at this position, a can indexing operation will be carried out by the ram 34 as neither of the switches SW4a and SW4b is released. If, however, no empty can is fed to the first reserve position after advancement of the previous can then switch SW4a will remain released and prevent the indexing ram from carrying out an indexing operation on completion of the filling of the new can on the turntable. Normal operation, may, nevertheless, be resumed by moving an empty can to the firsrt reserve position so as to cause operation of the switch SW4a, and then depressing a reset button provided for restarting the machine.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for coiling textile slivers into a sliver can at a coiling position beneath a coiler head and for supplying empty cans to the coiling position and discharging full cans therefrom, the apparatus comprising a rotary turntable for supporting and driving a can in the coiling position, and can-displacing means operable to move an empty can from a reserve position spaced from the can in the coiling position on to the turntable and to an advance position thereon beyond the coiling pOSition to displace the full can from the turntable to a discharge position in which it is clear of a can at the coiling position and means to retract the empty can from the advance position to locate it in the coiling position on the turntable.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said candisplacing means comprises a can indexing mechanism for advancing an empty can from the reserve position adjacent the turntable to an advance position on the turntable opposite said reserve position and then to retract for subsequent advancement of a further empty can from the reserve position to the advance position in a subsequent can-indexing operation, said can retracting means operating to retract the can from the advance position and locate it at the coiling position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said can retracting and locating means comprises an upstanding plunger provided with a conically tapering head portion and mounted for axial sliding movement through a central opening in the base of the turntable, means operable on retraction of the can-indexing mechanism to project the can locating plunger through the central opening in the turntable and into engagement with the base of th empty can thereon, each can having a central opening on the base thereof the conically tapering head portion of the plunger bearing up against an edge of the central opening in the base of the can and upon continued advancement of the plunger displacing the can on the turntable so that it is retracted to a central coiling position on the turntable ready for receiving sliver.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising guide means for guiding cans along a path extending across the turntable so that an empty can is constrained to move onto the turntable from a supply side thereof and a full can to move oi? the turntable to a discharge position on a discharge side thereof.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein means are provided for holding a first empty can in said guide path on the supply side of the turntable at a first reserve position and for holding a second empty can in said guide path at a second reserve position spaced from the said first reserve position, and wherein said can indexing mechanism simultaneously advances the first and secon empty cans, the can at the first reserve position being advanced to the advance position on the turntable and the can at the second reserve position being advanced to the first reserve position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the can indexing mechanism comprises a pneumatically operated indexing ram arranged with a piston rod longitudinally displaceable along the guide path to be traversed by the empty can to be advanced on the turntable wherein the piston rod is provided with indexing fingers arranged drivably to engage the cans at the rear thereof, the arrangement being such that when the piston rod is advanced the first finger engages the rear of the can at the first reserve position and the second finger engages the rear of the can at the second reserve position, causing the two empty cans to be advanced simultaneously through a distance equal to the stroke of the piston of the indexing ram.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the indexing fingers are spring-loaded and the arrangement is such that upon retraction of the piston rod of the indexing ram the first indexing finger retracts against its springloading and rides past the can located at the first reserve position and the second indexing finger retracts against its spring-loading to permit advancement of a further empty can along said guide path to the second reserve position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the can locating plunger is arranged to be actuated by a pneumatically operated ram, and wherein control means are provided for controlling the sequential operation of this ram and the can-indexing ram upon completion of the filling of a can at the coiling position.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said rams are supplied with air under pressure through pneumatic valves controlled by solenoids the energization of which is controlled by switch means arranged on the apparatus and responsive to completion of the advancing and retracting strokes of the two rams.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein provision is made for displacement of full cans along said guide path on the discharge side of the turntable onto a trolley serving to support a plurality of full cans.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the floor on the discharge side of the turntable is formed with two spaced ramps extending below floor level down which wheels of the trolley can ride to bring the trolley to a loading position in which a platform of the trolle is level with the turntable wherein the arrangement is such that full cans on displacement from the turntable are displaced onto the platform of the lowered trolley, and wherein the ramps are sufficiently inclined as to prevent displacement of the trolley from the loading position when a full can is slid onto it.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a manually controlled pneumatically-operated ram is provided for displacing the trolley from its loading position, and wherein means are provided for preventing operation of the can-indexing mechanism until a trolley is in the loading position to receive full cans.

13. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising switch means responsive to the absence of an empty can at the first reserve position to prevent the can indexing ram from carrying out a can indexing cycle.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said switch means is responsive to a mislocation of an empty can at the first reserve position to prevent the can indexing ram from carrying out a can indexing cycle.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising further switch means responsive to a mislocation of an empty can at the second reserve position to prevent the can indexing ram from carrying out a can indexing cycle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,988,785 6/1961 Noda 19-159 3,134,144 5/1964 Still 19159 3,214,799 11/1965 Gossett et a1. 19159 3,307,226 3/1967 Miiller 19159 FOREIGN PATENTS 168,154 7/1965 U.S.S.R.

865,820 4/ 1961 Great Britain. 1,005,578 9/1965 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

